In the vibrant coastal town of Guet Ndar, Senegal, the imposing presence of a gas platform marks a new chapter in the nation’s economic ambitions. The flame from its flare stack lights up the horizon day and night, a testament to the collaborative venture between British giant BP and U.S.-based Kosmos Energy that commenced operations on the dawn of 2025.
This initiative is positioned as a transformative force for Guet Ndar, a dense, fishing-reliant community near the historic locale of Saint Louis. As Africa’s deepest gas extraction plant, its purpose is to revitalize Senegal’s economy following the lucrative discoveries of oil and gas off its coast over a decade ago. Additionally, last year marked the beginning of Senegal’s initial offshore oil project.
Yet, the promise of progress clashes with the harsh reality faced by the fishing community. According to Mariam Sow, a vendor in the dwindling fish market, the struggles began around 2020 with the platform’s construction. Fishing, which is crucial to Senegal’s lifestyle and employs over 600,000 individuals as per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has shown signs of decline. In 2022, the country exported fish worth nearly half a billion dollars.
The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim project seeks to extract natural gas in waters shared by Senegal and Mauritania. BP anticipates the site will produce 2.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually. However, despite the potential, the benefits promised have not reached the local economy as expected.
Senegal’s newly elected President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, campaigned on utilizing national resources by revisiting foreign contracts deemed unfair and redistributing revenue. His intentions to disclose true ownership of extractive companies and audit the sector remain unclear, along with any contract renegotiation related to the gas project.
Residents of Guet Ndar feel the strain, with living costs spiraling and energy prices unyielding. For example, Mohamed Sow from Dakar laments that the cost of a 12-liter gas canister has sharply increased in recent years, impacting affordability.
As the gas project got underway, local fishermen identified sea disturbances such as unexplained bubbles, linked to a temporary gas leak that took weeks to resolve. BP claims the environmental effect was minimal, though Greenpeace emphasizes the risk such spills pose to the largest deep-water coral reef globally.
Mamadou Sarr, representing Saint Louis’ fishermen, notes a decline in fish populations attributed to the structures, which divert marine life from traditional fishing areas. Despite BP’s community engagements and promises of vocational training and microfinance initiatives, dissatisfaction lingers among locals.
Abdou, a local fisherman, retells a tale of diminished catches matching national frustrations over foreign overfishing. Meanwhile, a supposedly beneficial refrigeration facility constructed by BP remains inaccessible, symbolically locked to the community’s displeasure.
Sarr’s sentiments encapsulate the community’s struggle for inclusion and fairness, as the economic tide seemingly turns without their voice. “This is our land and sea, why don’t we get a voice?” he questions, amidst growing concerns for their future.